A Petition to the Pope (1991)
The documents that follow on this page (a
letter to Cardinal Ratzinger and the form of the letter to U.S. bishops) all pertain to
and include a 1991 petition to the Holy Father requesting that he sanction prominent
United States Catholic politicians who enable, support or condone the horrible evil of
abortion.
The Petition was sent to Cardinal Ratzinger in the Vatican, to each Bishop of the
United States dioceses, and to each defendant (politician). It was submitted on behalf of
nine plaintiffs. The plaintiffs' procurator was Attorney Daniel Lynch of St. Albans, VT.
THE MISSIONS OF THE
SORROWFUL AND IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
26 LAKE STREET
ST. ALBANS, VERMONT 05478
Telephone: 802-527-1776
Fax: 802-527-1778
Abandon yourselves totally. Consecrate yourselves to
the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary!
July 16, 1991
Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
Vatican City State
Europe
Dear Cardinal:
I have enclosed an original Petition to the Holy Father to sanction prominent United
States Catholic politicians who enable, support or condone the horrible evil of abortion.
Copies have been sent to each defendant and to each Bishop of the United States dioceses.
I will direct a penitential pilgrimage of the plaintiffs and others to Italy this
September in order to present the Petition to the Holy Father. The pilgrims will be led by
the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Missionary Image is a 4' by 6'
photographic replica of the original image which is located in the Guadalupe Shrine near
Mexico City.
The Missionary Image is a gift to United States Catholics from the Bishops of Mexico. I
have been appointed National Guardian of the Missionary Image. Last April the Mexican
Bishops prayed through Cardinal Ocampo that the Missionary Image would "be well
received in all of the Americas and supported in her mission to end abortion and convert
millions."
This would be a fulfillment of Pope John Paul II’s prophecy made on December 12,
1981, the 450th anniversary of the apparitions, that the Guadalupe Shrine would be
a center "from which the light of the Gospel of Christ will shine out over the whole
world by means of the miraculous image of His Mother."
We pilgrims will be in Rome on September 3 and 4. Would you please arrange an audience
with the Holy Father? Thank you.
In Christ's Love,
Daniel J. Lynch
DJL:jb
THE MISSIONS OF THE
SORROWFUL AND IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
26 LAKE STREET
ST. ALBANS, VERMONT 05478
Telephone: 802-527-1776
Fax: 802-527-1778
Abandon yourselves totally. Consecrate yourselves to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
of Mary!
July 16, 1991
Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Dear Bishop _______:
I have enclosed a copy of a Petition to the Holy Father to sanction prominent United
States Catholic politicians who enable, support or condone the horrible evil of abortion.
The Petition has been sent to Cardinal Ratzinger in the Vatican, to each Bishop of the
United States dioceses, and to each defendant.
A defendant may reside in your diocese. Perhaps you could investigate the allegations
of the Petition and take some action as suggested in paragraphs 9 through 12.
I will direct a penitential pilgrimage of United States Catholics to Italy this
September to present the Petition to the Holy Father. If you support the Petition, please
let me know in writing so that I may inform the Holy Father.
In Christ's love,
Daniel J. Lynch
DJL/jp
Enc.
PETITION
TO:
Pope John Paul II,
Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church
FROM:
PLAINTIFFS
Joan Andrews of Rescue Outreach;
Eric Bower of Voice Network International;
William Cotter of Operation
Rescue:Boston;
Robert Delery of Our Lady's Crusaders for Life;
Daniel J. Lynch of the Missions of the Sorrowful and
Immaculate Heart of Mary;
Rev. Paul Marx of Human Life International;
John Ring of St. Stanislaus Committee;
Joseph Scheidler of Pro-Life Action League; and
Rev. Rosario Thomas of St. Stanislaus Committee;
all of whom are members of the faithful of the Roman
Catholic Church.
AGAINST:
DEFENDANTS
Mario Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York;
John D. Dingell, United States Representative from
Michigan;
Christopher J. Dodd, United States Senator from
Connecticut;
Thomas J. Downey, United States Representative from
New York;
Richard Durbin, United States Representative from
Illinois;
Bernard Dwyer, United States Representative from New
Jersey;
Thomas Foley, United States Representative from
Washington;
Henry B. Gonzalez, United States Representative from
Texas;
Edward M. Kennedy, United States Senator from
Massachusetts;
Joseph P. Kennedy, II, United States Representative
from Massachusetts;
Patrick Leahy, United States Senator from Vermont;
Thomas C. McMillen, United States Representative from
Maryland;
Edward J. Markey, United States Representative from
Massachusetts;
Barbara A. Mikulski, United States Senator from
Maryland;
George Mitchell, United States Senator from Maine;
Susan Molinari, United States Representative from New
York;
Connie Morella, United States Representative from
Maryland;
Daniel Moynihan, United States Senator from New York;
David Obey, United States Representative from
Wisconsin;
Frank Pallone,United States Representative from New
Jersey;
Edward R. Roybal, United States Representative from
California;
James Traficant, Jr., United States Representative
from Ohio;
Pat Williams, United States Representative from
Montana;
Frances Kissling, President of Catholics for a Free
Choice;
Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority;
all of whom are nominally members of the faithful of
the Roman Catholic Church and all other of such members unnamed who commit or make the
same or similar acts and/or statements as the Defendants as alleged herein.
SUMMARY OF PETITION
Plaintiffs bring this Petition on behalf of
themselves, the Mystical Body of Christ, the Eucharistic Body of Christ, and as Guardians
of all unborn human beings in imminent danger of death by abortions against Defendants who
have been, are and will be accomplices of abortions by reason of their public and
notorious acts and/or statements which enable, support or condone abortion.
Plaintiffs seek a declaration that such acts and
statements are contrary to and inimical to the faith of the Roman Catholic Church; and
that Defendants commit a scandal to the Mystical Body of Christ and a sacrilege to the
Eucharistic Body of Christ when received by them.
Plaintiffs also seek the following orders to:
1. Order that such acts and statements by Defendants
be enjoined;
2. Order public repentance and retraction by
Defendants for their acts and statements;
3. Prohibit Defendants from Eucharistic receptions
until they have done so; and
4. Order public excommunication of any Defendant who
does not follow such orders.
JURISDICTION
Jurisdiction lies under Canons 1417 and 1442 of the
Code of Canon Law which permit any of the faithful to introduce their case personally
before the Roman Pontiff as the Supreme Judge for the whole Catholic world. The Church has
its own and exclusive right to judge whatever is sinful to determine guilt and impose
ecclesiastical penalties under Canon 1401.2.
ALLEGATIONS
1. Millions of innocent unborn American human beings
have been killed by abortions.
2. Defendants by their public and notorious acts
and/or statements have enabled, supported, or condoned some of such abortions.
3. By such acts and statements Defendants confuse and
scandalize the faithful and support a public policy of civil "rights" for
abortion that violates the fundamental moral value of the right to life which the Church
teaches is universally binding in conscience.
4. Notwithstanding such, on information and belief
some Defendants publicly receive the sacrament of the Eucharist.
5. St. Paul says that "...whoever eats the bread
or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily sins against the Body and Blood of the
Lord." 1 Cor. 11:27.
St. John Chrysostom says to priests that "if
anyone approaches unworthily, turn him away, whoever he may be, a general or a magistrate
or a king in his crown, for you have greater power than he and God has appointed you judge
in such matters."
Because of their acts and statements publicly
manifested in obstinate persistence in grave sin, Defendants are objectively unworthy
recipients of the Eucharist.
6. The acts and statements of Defendants physically
or morally enable abortions and constitute the following violations of Canon Law:
a. Accomplices to abortion, in violation of Canons
1329.2 and 1398.
b. Disobedience to the teaching of the United States'
Bishops who represent Christ, have declared as teachers of the faith that "no
Catholic can responsibly take a 'pro-choice' stand when the 'choice' in question involves
the taking of innocent human life", in violation of Canon 212.1.
c. Grave harm to public morals, in violation of Canon
1369.
d. Sacrilegious reception of the sacrament of the
Eucharist, in violation of Canons 1399 and 915.
e. Ex-communion from the Church, in violation of
Canon 209.1.
f. Ex-communication from the Church as an apostate,
heretic or schismatic, in violation of Canon 1364.
7. Because of these external violations, imputability
is presumed under Canon 21.3.
8. Because of Defendants' public positions of dignity
and abuse of their position of authority and office and long standing contempt and the
gravity of scandal, a more serious punishment should be inflicted, pursuant to Canons
1364.2 and 1326.2.
9. Regarding Defendants' violations, their Bishops
are bound to defend the unity of the universal Church to foster discipline which is common
to the whole Church and to press for the observance of all ecclesiastical laws, pursuant
to Canon 392.1.
10. Regarding Defendants' violations which give rise
to scandal and serious disturbances of public order, their Bishops can correct defendants
in a way appropriate to their particular conditions and of what has been done, pursuant to
Canon 1339.2.
11. Regarding Defendants' violations, their Bishops
should have started judicial procedures for the imposition or declaration of penalities,
pursuant to Canon 1341.
12. Notwithstanding such, and the undisputed facts
alleged herein, on information and belief, Defendants' Bishops have not followed or
implemented Canons 1326.2, 392.1, 1339.2, 1341 and 915 and have not imposed any public
sanctions upon Defendants.
13. Because of such failure to act and the gravity of
the situation, harm to human life and public morals, Plaintiffs as members of the faithful
introduce this petition directly to the Roman Pontiff pursuant to Canons 1417.1 and 1442.
14. Plaintiffs also bring this petition on behalf of
the innocent unborn children whose lives are imminently in danger by Defendants' acts
and/or statements who have no one but Plaintiffs to act for them. They are not recognized
as physical persons under the civil law of the United States of America. However, they are
physical persons under Canons 97.1 and 97.2 and Plaintiffs should be appointed as their
Guardians under Canon 1478.2.
15. All defendants and their bishops have been sent
copies of this Petition.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request the following relief:
a. That Pope John Paul II, Supreme Pontiff of the
Roman Catholic Church take jurisdiction of this petition.
b. That he publicly order Defendants to:
1. Refrain from any act or statement which enables,
supports or condones abortion.
2. Publicly repent and retract their errors and
promise no further acts and/or statements which enable, support or condone abortion.
3. Refrain from reception of the sacrament of
Eucharist until the above orders have been followed.
c. That he publicly declare that Defendants’
acts and/or statements as alleged are:
1. Contrary to and inimical Catholic Church; to the
faith of the Roman Catholic Church;
2. A scandal to the Mystical Body of Christ, the
faithful of the Roman Catholic Church; and
3. A sacrilege to the Real Body and Blood of Jesus
Christ when Defendants receive the sacrament of the Eucharist.
d. In the event that any Defendant fails to follow
any of the above orders to publicly excommunicate him or her from the Roman Catholic
Church.
Dated at St. A1bans, Vermont this 16th day
of July, 1991.
_______________________
Daniel J. Lynch
Plaintiffs’ Procurator
26 Lake Street
St. Albans, Vermont 05478
State of Vermont
County of Franklin
Comes now on this 16th day of July, 1991,
Daniel J. Lynch, personally known to me and personally known to me to be the person who
executed the foregoing instrument, and he, being first duly sworn, on his oath declared
and acknowledged that he executed the same, for the purposes therein expressed, as his
Free Act and Deed, and that, having only the Name of Jesus before him, he stated that the
facts and declarations therein set forth are true and correct to his best information and
belief.
____________________________p>
_________________________________
Joanne Batchelder, Notary Public
My Commission expires: February, 1996
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